Californian inventor spends millions creating one-off camper van

[Serpo]

Californian inventor spends millions creating one-off camper van to take his four year old daughter around the world



Called the KiraVan, the vehicle includes an office, kitchen, bedrooms and even its own motorbike and drone

Created by 61 year old Bran Ferren for his daughter Kira, who has her own pop tent on top of the truck
Pair hope to travel across America and the world in the vehicle


http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2014/04/11/article-0-1CFFCE7100000578-21_964x555.jpghttp://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2014/04/11/article-0-1CFFCC6400000578-348_964x555.jpghttp://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2014/04/11/article-0-1CFFD0CF00000578-964_964x555.jpghttp://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2014/04/11/article-0-1CFFCD5100000578-593_964x555.jpghttp://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2014/04/11/article-2602924-1D09A0B600000578-755_964x655.jpg

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2602924/Now-THATS-RV-Californian-inventor-spends-millions-ultimate-camper-van-four-year-old-daughter-world.html

[Carl]

http://www.rvtravel.com/blog/weirdrvs/uploaded_images/a-longrv-701307.jpg

[Libertytree]

Nice hobbies for mill/billionares. They miss the whole idea of traveling though, IMHO.

[midnight rambler]

Nice hobbies for mill/billionares. They miss the whole idea of traveling though, IMHO.

That's not traveling that's touring. (as in they're tourists)

[Serpo]

Look very strange in a 3rd world country

[midnight rambler]

Look very strange in a 3rd world country

I doubt that he has enough money to drive through Mexico with that rig. (If he tried going through Mexico City he'd never be able to leave as every cop in Mexico City would stop him for their 'bite')

Both of those rigs are utterly ridiculous.

[Glass]

yeah I wonder if they have holidayed outside of the US before? That thing is not going to fit on euro streets. Highways yeah ok. Does it have a city car tucked away somewhere? Down here we have limits on what size vehicle on what roads. They would probably struggle to get that thing in too close to the city centre. There are through roads to go cross town but not into town for the big stuff.

2000 miles is a reasonable range though. Perth to Adelaide non stop. It would be good for a round Australia highway trip. dont know how you would get it here though. I'd like one of those Dakar rally trucks.

[Cebu_4_2]

Phillipines you never make it through a main city, and to go to another island... Manilla, Cebu. Bacolod, etc.

[Carl]

Here you go, a more affordable off-road motorhome:

http://www.wallpaperup.com/uploads/wallpapers/2013/09/20/149647/b2c0b6fc36e4a4d57146e8583b3149ec.jpg

[Hitch]

Here you go, a more affordable off-road motorhome.

I like the look of that one. Bet it's got a nice diesel engine too. Have a link to what the interior looks like? I don't like that fancy million dollar one in the OP.

[Carl]

I like the look of that one. Bet it's got a nice diesel engine too. Have a link to what the interior looks like? I don't like that fancy million dollar one in the OP.

That pic is from a 'wallpaper' site, I got there by typing "off road motorhomes" in a google search.

The "4wd Off-Road Survival Expedition Vehicle Camper for Sale" link sets off my antivirus program....

*Here's another pic;

http://www.wallpaperup.com/uploads/wallpapers/2013/09/20/149650/d8210e37ecd87ce86b2d1925029e54e7.jpg

[Hitch]

Carl, check these folks out. Tiger Adventure Vehicles. I met the owner at an RV show. Very realistically priced, and awesome, RV's.

http://www.tigervehicles.com/

[Glass]

there's a big eagle or hawk painted on the side of that one. I like it. Can't find anything about it but I think it's got more cred.

[midnight rambler]

Who can afford all that nonsense??

Get a couple of cases of duct tape and build a fine RV on the cheap.

http://rvchatwithron.files.wordpress.com/2010/07/duct_tape_camper.jpg?w=300?w=133&h=100

[Neuro]

Carl, check these folks out. Tiger Adventure Vehicles. I met the owner at an RV show. Very realistically priced, and awesome, RV's.

http://www.tigervehicles.com/
$140k realistic, really?

[Hitch]

$140k realistic, really?

This couple figured out you pay about 20% more for a Tiger, than a comparable truck/camper combo. For them, the advantages made the extra cost worth it.

http://www.travelin-tortuga.com/Travelin-Tortuga/Tiger_Talk.html

[Neuro]

This couple figured out you pay about 20% more for a Tiger, than a comparable truck/camper combo. For them, the advantages made the extra cost worth it.

http://www.travelin-tortuga.com/Travelin-Tortuga/Tiger_Talk.html
For most people it represents 3-4 years of salary...

[Hitch]

For most people it represents 3-4 years of salary...

Did you read that article? The first sentence, that couple lived in theirs for 7 years. They traveled in it to 45 different countries. To accomplish that, you need a good vehicle. They spent $85K on theirs. Divide that by 7, a little over $12,000 a year, or $1000 a month for the vehicle to have an adventure of a lifetime. That's what living is about! Could you do what they did cheaper, most definitely.

People spend ridiculous amounts of money on fancy cars to sit in traffic and impress their friends. I'd say that $85K was well spent.

[Neuro]

Did you read that article? The first sentence, that couple lived in theirs for 7 years. They traveled in it to 45 different countries. To accomplish that, you need a good vehicle. They spent $85K on theirs. Divide that by 7, a little over $12,000 a year, or $1000 a month for the vehicle to have an adventure of a lifetime. That's what living is about! Could you do what they did cheaper, most definitely.

People spend ridiculous amounts of money on fancy cars to sit in traffic and impress their friends. I'd say that $85K was well spent.
Ah you can buy it for $85k, albeit at least 7 years ago... I just went into the website and clicked on one model and saw it costed $139,899... Still for most people I would say that it isn't realistic to spend that amount of money. Sure they may qualify for the credit, but then they have to continue working to be able to pay it off, and thus they can't travel to 45 countries in 7 years... Possibly a realistic proposition for a person/couple retiring, selling their house they have payed off their mortgage on, so they can buy it clear, and live on their pensions on the road. Or if you sold your house at the peak of the real estate bubble 7 years ago...

[Hitch]

Ah you can buy it for $85k, albeit at least 7 years ago... I just went into the website and clicked on one model and saw it costed $139,899... Still for most people I would say that it isn't realistic to spend that amount of money. Sure they may qualify for the credit, but then they have to continue working to be able to pay it off, and thus they can't travel to 45 countries in 7 years... Possibly a realistic proposition for a person/couple retiring, selling their house they have payed off their mortgage on, so they can buy it clear, and live on their pensions on the road. Or if you sold your house at the peak of the real estate bubble 7 years ago...

There's definitely a certain market niche for those vehicles, and you can include me in 'most people', costwise. If I could afford one, I'd own one. I've logged 17,000 miles in my RV in two years so far. The more affordable kind. I'm surprised she's holding together actually. I don't think my RV was built for some of the abuses, ie rough unpaved roads, I've taken her on.

You get what you pay for. Most RV'ers stay parked, only used on weekends, or stay in RV parks. Stay on paved roads. That's really most people. People like myself, and the adventurous couple, in the article are in the minority.

I always take a big interest in camper thread discussions.

[Carl]

Personally, I think owning and driving around in vehicles like those is the same as painting a target on your back..... "Hey lookie here!!! Please rob me first!!!"

[govcheetos]

http://www.toyotamotorhomes.com/index.htm

http://www.toyotamotorhomes.com/4x4/steve4x4/steve85a.jpg

[mick silver]

a gas hog for the rich , we use a tent